Tractor fender



Nov. 8, 1949 l.. M. BRIGHAM 433217 TRACTOR FENDER Filed Aug'. 51, 1946 I E/ l il' Patented Nov. 8, 1949 TRACTOR FENDER. EaurenceMi Brigham; Safti'coy,1fli

Application August. 31, 1946, Seniat-.No 694.302

.6* Claims;

llhi'sinventionv relates to tractor fenders. and' mounting therefor, and. is particularly directed to. ari-.irriprovefd'type' offender for uselin' oonnec.- tionwitli. track laying. tractors of. the type Commonl'yusedin orchards, vineyards andv other agri"- cult'ural." enterprises. The track laying tractor ordinarl'yhastle.disadvantage that the exposed mechanismfor. driving thetracks andthe tracks. themselves; are open and exposed and often become entangled. with .-smallbranches of trees` or Vinesas the tractor moves along the ground. In the. cultivation of orange-groves, for example,4 track'. layinghtractors. may snagsmall limbs Which, may' damage the treesto greater. or. lesser extent. and the fruit on that limbmay be. lost. Accordingly,A it.has,beco.methe practice to provide. such` tractors with fend'ers which are smooth in. outline and'v free from projections andwhi'ch. enclosethe. major portion oft the exposed', endless. track. andi the mechanism for turning it. These. fenders as` presently constructed, however, are. bolted'to' the frame off thetractor.. and' their. removaliis, a.. time, consumingr operation. It is. necessary thatthe .fenders be. periodically movedout of the Way. in.

order tor inspect and .lubricate the. track. layingV mechanism.

It is therefore theprincipal' obj ect of myv invention toprovi'de a. tractor fender. liavingy a. novel form, ci' mounting ony a. track laying tractor.,

Another Objectis to provide a fender. of this.

type which is' pivotally mounted relative, to, the.

frame of the tractor. for ease` of. accesstothetrack.. laying mechanism.

Another object is toeprovide4 tractor fiendersflor a track laying, tractor which. areindependently supported on the tractor frame by means. oipiv otal connections, and which. are normally-.mainftainedin operative positionby singlereleasable,

rotating elements extending, transversely of'- thev frame between the.fend'ers.

Other objects and 'advantages .will appear. heree inafter.

In the drawings:

Figure l is.l atop., plan. view` ot; a. track laying tractor provided With fenders embodyingmy inventi'on.`

Figure 21s a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3; isan end elevation, showingrone of the fenders pivoted to its inoperative position topravide access to the endless track'and drivingmeclie anism ofthe tractor.y

Referring tothe-drawings, the` tractor unitggeriorally designated I-0- is provided WithA a` prime mover il mounted on a frame l2 and positioned 28o-rsa IW... each being. termed; of; a... series. orf individual: amuser.Y shoes.. |52; Tneframef Ifrniay;v be; ofzaritf-fv desired time. and," may-1 comprise.. a. separate" unit;`- uponwhich` the various. component. parts; ofthe tractor. arasupportentlfor iti may' comprseisiinnli" the'. transmission housing and" associated,` parte; feature. isnot. material. to. mafinvention; since"-v my. tractor fenders may' be. advantageomlyeme pibyed'witheither style. 0i*'0.011.511iuctioli:a

Attached; tio.. the fra-me. [22' by al1-inconvenient, means.such as iby; weidingmareisupporting-Bracke ets IB; IT, l8"and' I'ST. The forwardbrackcts L6?- and. t1.. extend. laterally,iromtheftractnr frameat a position..inadvanceothe endlesstraeks, I 3i. and. M21 Similarly, rear. brackets. t8. and' I8; extend'. laterally.. from the. .tracmnirame ata. nos ti'ont to. the. rear .of'the endless'. tracks. laland [452'. The. outer. projectinaendoieach oitliesebrack'- ets.. carries. a. pivot. pin.. zllwhchds. receivedj a; pair. oijspaceid lugs. 2|- The Ines. 2l' are carried'. on thelower edge. and at" opposite. ends of a de,- pendingskirt. zonzeach oitheienders Z3and'245.. The skirtllZZ' @n.each; ofthe-.tenders isgjoinedto. a cover. Z5, which. overlies the endless trackand. may,Y be. curved.' at.- its opposed'. ends. to conform; generally tothe. curvature.oi`"the.track.. Luge-2.6i andfixedto. the.. cover portionsof, the. fenders. and 24. respectively areisecnred to, right hand and. lethand'hooks. 28and12 which .are.thieaiiec;y into'. a. turnbnckle 3.0.' The. hooks 2.8;' and.' 2.5.. andi turnhuckle. 30.? extend.' transversely;r across. the.. frame.. I'21 When. it is. desiredto. -inspect,..lubricate. or gain. acces-s..to.-.thfe track' elements. IL3 and'gl'l their turnbucKI'eMI'is. d.isconnectecl..,simultaneouslyi` disconnecting., both'. ofi the. fenders. 2.3i and." 23412.. Each fender maily thenbepivotedaway fromtlie. tractorv frame.. about the.. pivot' nin.. 20: to..y expose. the endless track and its..associatedmeohansmi.- It wil'lbie'. anpia'lentthat niethodoiimountng; a. tractor fender.; enables. an operator. togain accesstothe endless track;.devicesiima.mininium. time.

method." 0i' attachment' to.. the.4 tractor includes. apluralitv, Qf"bio1ts Whichare. relatively, inaccessible. andjit is, not.` unusual'that' oneefialf' day.. should:l be. reduiredto remove.. andrenlace .the tenders,... For.. this. reason the., side. skirts Qrntlle fenders are' oiminimum. dentii andi do not.. adequatelr enclose the operating., mechanism. for the. endless. tracks againsmentrance: of branches.; or? trees; or. vines: Thel fenders are mounted in thier-way; in; orderthat moving partsoi theendless-.tiiacks and' associated mechanism may be' lubricated between the endless parallel driving tracks I3 and 55 without the necessity of removing the fenders in In conventional. fenders.. new emploaed the.

order to gain access to the parts. By my construction I not only enable an operator to expose the endless track and its mechanism in a minimum of time, but I am also able to provide a smooth skirt depending sufficiently below the top level of the fender to insure that branches of trees or vines will not become entangled in the mechanism of the tractor.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim: j

1. In combination with -a tractor having a frame and endless track laying elements on opposite sides of the frame, a fender for each of said track laying elements, each fender including a cover portion adapted to overlie one of said elements and a skirt portion depending therefrom, means at the opposite ends of each fender for pivotally supporting the fender on the frame, said pivotal means being located adjacent the lower edge of the depending skirt, the axes of the pivotal means being substantially horizontal and extending longitudinally of the tractor whereby the fenders each may be pivoted outwardly laterally away from the frame as a unit to expose the entire length of the upper flight of said endless track laying elements, and releasable securing means extending transversely of the frame normally adapted to maintain both fenders in operative position.`

2. In `combination with a tractor having a frame and endless track laying elements on opposite sides of the frame, a pair of fenders adapted to enclose a portion of each of said endless track laying elements, each of said fenders including a cover portion adapted to engage the tractor frame and to overlie one of said elements, a skirt portion depending from each cover portion, pivotal means adjacent the opposite ends of each depending skirt and located near the lower edge thereof for supporting the fenders upon the frame, the axes of the pivotal means being substantially horizontal and extending longitudinally of the tractor, and securing means extending transversely of the frame normally adapted to maintain both fenders in oper-ative position, said securing means being selectively releasable to enable both fenders to be pivoted laterally away from the frame to expose the entire length of the upper portion of the track laying elements.

3. In combination with a tractor having a frame and endless track laying elements on opposite sides of the frame, a pair of fenders adapted to enclose a portion of each of said endless laying elements, each of said fenders including a cover portion adapted to overlie one of said elements, a skirt portion depending from the cover portion, pivotal means adjacent the opposite ends of each depending skirt and located near the lower edge thereof for supporting the fenders upon the frame, the axes of the pivotal means being substantially horizontal `and extending longitudinally of the tractor, and a turnbuckle extending transversely of the frame adapted for connection with both of said cover portions to maintain both fenders in operative position on the frame, said means being releasable to enable both fenders to be pivoted laterally away from the frame to expose the entire upper portion of the track laying elements.

4. In combination with a tractor having a frame and endless track laying elements on opposite sides of the frame, a fender for each of said track laying elements, each fender including a cover portion adapted to overlie one of said elements and a skirt portion depending therefrom, stationary brackets secured to the frame and extending laterally therefrom at locations fore and Iaft of the track laying elements, pivotal means at the opposite ends of each fender for pivotally supporting the fender on said stationary brackets, said pivotal means being located adjacent the lower edge of the depending skirt, the axes of the pivotal means being substantially horizontal and extending longitudinally of the tractor whereby the fenders each may be pivoted outwardly laterally away from the frame .as a unit to expose the entire upper portion of said endless track laying elements, and releasable means extending transversely of the frame normally adapted to maintain both fenders in operative position.

5. In 'combination with a tractor having a frame and endless track laying elements on opposite sides of the frame, a fender for each of said track laying elements, each fender including a. cover portion adapted to overlie one of said elements and a skirt portion depending therefrom, stationary brackets secured to the frame and extending laterally therefrom at locations fore and aft of the track laying elements, pivotal means at the opposite ends of each fender for pivotally supporting the fender on said stationary brackets, said pivotal means being located adjacent the lower edge of the depending skirt, the axes of the pivotal means being substantially horizontal and extending longitudinally of the tractor whereby the fenders may be pivoted outwardly laterally away from the frame to provide access to said endless track laying elements, and releasable means normally adapted to maintain the fenders in operative position.

6. In combination with a tractor having a frame and endless track laying elements on opposite sides of the frame, a pair of fenders adapted to enclose a portion of each of said endless track laying elements, each of said fenders including a cover portion adapted to overlie one of said elements and a skirt portion depending from the cover portion, stationary brackets secured to the frame and extending laterally therefrom at locations fore and aft of the track laying elements, pivot means at the opposite ends of each fender for pivotally supporting the fender on said stationary brackets, the axes of the pivot means being substantially horizontal and extending longitudinally of the tractor, means including a turnbuckle extending transversely of the frame for connection with both of said cover portions to maintain both fenders in operative position on the frame, said means being releasable to enable both fenders to be pivoted laterally away from the frame to expose the track laying elements.

LAURENCE M. BRIGHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,086,172 Northup July 6, 1937 2,211,654 Heaslet Aug. 13, 1940 2,447,898 Colaner, Sr Aug. 24, 1948 

